On Tuesday June 11, there will be a Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Absentee voting for the primary begins on Friday, April 26. Many Alexandria voters are eligible to vote absentee, but relatively few take advantage of this option. Qualifying circumstances: commute and work for 11 of the 13 hours the polls are open; caregiver for a confined family member; unable to go to the polls in person on Election Day because of an illness or disability; or will be absent from Alexandria on Election Day because of personal business, work, school, or vacation. To learn more about these, and other circumstances in which absentee voting is an appropriate option, visit alexandriava.gov/Elections and click on “Absentee Voting,” or call 703-746-4050.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month Events

SafeAssured Child Identification. SafeAssured ID Kits provide families with vital information needed by law enforcement and the media to immediately broadcast information unique to a missing child. Open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.safeassured-id.com/.

A Playgroup A Day: The Center will host a playgroup a day through the month of April. Developmental playgroups focus on the importance of learning through play and provide parents with best practices. Ages 0-5. No pre-registration or enrollment necessary. For a listing of playgroups, visit the Center’s website at www.centerforalexandriaschildren.org or call 703-746-6008.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events

The Sexual Assault Center of the Department of Community & Human Services will recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month. There will be several activities going on around the City April 19–26 at the Alexandria Police Department (3600 Wheeler Ave.)

Spanish Language Safety and Prevention Forum for the Hispanic Community on April 30 from 7-9 p.m. – A panel discussion on services and information for the Hispanic community at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 845 N. Howard St.

Poll

Participate in ACTion Alexandria's Civic Engagement Principles online poll to review the principles and answer a few short questions. To take the online poll, visit: http://actionalexandria.org/alexandrias-principles-civic-engagement. For more information on “What’s Next Alexandria,” the City’s Civic Engagement initiative, visit www.alexandriava.gov/whatsnext, contact Carrie Beach at 703-746-4666, or e-mail whatsnext@alexandriava.gov.

Thursday/April 25

Reception. 7 p.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Commonwealth Republican Women’s Club is holding a general membership reception. Free. Buffet follows a talk on how to advance free market ideas in 2013 health policies. 703-684-8989.

Saturday/April 27

Community Shred Days. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union main branch at 4875 Eisenhower Ave. Bring old documents, receipts and other personal materials to shred for free. There will be family activities, prizes and refreshments. Visit www.cofcu.org or 855-GO-COFCU.

Sunday/April 28

Swearing-In. 8 a.m. at Alfred Street Baptist Church, 301 S. Alfred St. The swearing in of officers and executive committee members of the Alexandria chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Free.

Tuesday/April 30

Community Dialogue. 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St. Hear results of the most recent online poll and what implementation of What’s Next Alexandria will look like. There will be live Internet streaming. To register visit alexandriava.gov/Whatsnext or 703-746-3855.

Through April

Spring Clean-Up. Residents can clear out household clutter and place unwanted bulky trash and metal items at the curb to be picked up on a Saturday in April. Metals should be separated from other trash items, as it will be picked up at a different collection date. Zone 3 - April 20; Zone 4 - April 27. Visit alexandriava.gov/solidwaste for more.

Wednesday/May 1

Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan Meeting. 7 p.m. at Landmark Mall, on the second floor of the former Lord and Taylor space. Community members can ask additional questions and offer opinions on a variety of topics including transit and school impacts. 703-746-3817.

Through Friday/May 3

Princess for a Night Collection. Donate formal dresses, shoes, handbags, jewelry, unused make-up (for example, sample cosmetics) and “nice” shopping bags. Drop items off at T.C. Williams main office, 3330 King St. between 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The project especially needs dresses for sizes 18+. Please do not donate velvet or wintry dresses, soiled or outdated items, casual dresses or items for mature women, as they cannot be used. E-mail eleanor.muse@acps.k12.va.us for questions or to volunteer.

Saturday/May 4

Garden of Light Reception. 3-6 p.m. at Holiday Inn & Suites, 625 1st St. Features refreshments, live music and a silent auction. $55/person. Proceeds benefit victims of abuse served through Bethany House of Northern Virginia’s Family Assistance Program. Visit gardenoflight2013.eventbrite.com for tickts.

Alexandria Women’s History Guided Tour. 1:30 p.m. in front of the Ramsay House, 221 King St. The tour highlights achievements of women in Alexandria. Reception follows the tour. RSVP by May 2 to alexandriawomen@gmail.com.

Dress selection. Any northern Virginia-area student can select a formal dress and accessories from 3:30-6 p.m. at T.C. Williams, 3330 King St. Students will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Free. E-mail eleanor.muse@acps.k12.va.us for questions or to volunteer.

Saturday/May 11

Dress selection. Any northern Virginia-area student can select a formal dress and accessories from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at T.C. Williams, 3330 King St. Students will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Free. E-mail eleanor.muse@acps.k12.va.us for questions or to volunteer.

Washington House, 5100 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria. Get expert answers about living wills and other advance care directives. Guest speaker Gene D. Robinson III, attorney, will answer questions as well as explain the distinction between appointing a power of attorney in advance and having a guardian appointed during a crisis. Free. Call 1-877-254-9840 to make reservations by Friday, May 17.

Thursday/May 23

Small Business Summit & Expo. Noon-8 p.m. at Holiday Inn Old Town. Lt. Governor Bill Bolling is the luncheon keynote speaker. There is a reception from 5:3-7:30 p.m. Visit alexchamber.com or 703-549-1000 for information and pricing.

Clio’s Kids: A History Mini-C.a.m.p. 9 a.m.-noon for children ages 5-7. $105 includes snacks and souvenirs. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/historic/lyceum/default.aspx?id=43632 for more.

Registration Open

Register for early spring “Learn to Swim” classes, held at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center Pool. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or call 703-746-4343 to register.

Ongoing

Eligible low income households can now use their SNAP benefits to buy fresh, healthy and local foods at the Old Town Farmers’ Market.

Beginning Saturday, April 27, the City of Alexandria’s Old Town Farmers’ Market will be participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. As a result, SNAP customers will be able to use their electronic benefits transfer cards to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and other eligible food products at the market. The Old Town Farmer’s Market is located on King Street between N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets, and is open on Saturdays, year round from 7 a.m. to noon.

Opera NOVA has begun a new collection of previously used musical instruments. Any instrument would be welcomed, regardless of type. Consider helping another family build musical memories. Snare drums, clarinets, and violins are just some of the instruments that could bring joy into a home or school. Any recorders donated will be sent to an orphanage in Haiti in order to build a musical presence there. Opera NOVA has tax-exempt status. Contact Miriam Miller at 703-536-7557 or mcdm1@verizon.net to arrange for delivery.

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum seeks a volunteer to translate their tour guide from English into different languages, such as Spanish, Japanese, French, German, or any other language the volunteer could offer. If interested, contact Shadayna Taylor at taylors@gwmail.gwu.edu.

Free Medicare counseling is available for City of Alexandria residents through the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) to help individuals understand and navigate Medicare insurance programs. VICAP Medicare counselors will be available on Thursdays from 1-5 p.m., by appointment only, at the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services, located at 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. Speakers are also available to present information on Medicare Basic to community groups. Call 703-228-1726 to schedule an appointment, inquire about community presentations or for more information.

The Military Officers Association of America’s scholarship fund gives out loans and grants to children of military families. To learn more, apply or donate visit www.moaa.org/scholarshipfund.

Postpartum Support Virginia sponsors a free, bi-monthly support group for women suffering depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy or in the first year following childbirth. Meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at Inova Alexandria Hospital, Health Education Center, rooms 1-2, 4320 Seminary Road. Contact co-moderator Susan Doyle at suzjdoyle@gmail.com or 571-403-0673.

MOM's Organic Market in Del Ray, 3831 Mount Vernon Ave., is accepting holiday lights for recycling. They accept all holiday lights that are no longer wanted or working and offer recyclers a 30 percent off coupon for the purchase of new high-efficiency LED holiday lights.

VCE Master Gardener Help Desk. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday-Friday. Bring fresh samples of problem plants, weeds or insects to ensure accurate identification. VCE recommends carrying samples in plastic bags or other clear containers. No live insects. All clinics and Help Desk are free. 703-228-6414 or mgarlalex@gmail.com.

Five-Star Toastmasters, Club # 9623. Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Pentagon Conference Center. Toastmasters can help participants sharpen their speaking skills, boost their confidence and energize their leadership skills in a team-oriented atmosphere. Visit http://fivestar.freetoasthost.com or Club President Charlie DeWitt at 202-997-5087 or Club_President@fivestar.freetoasthost.com.

The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of Alexandria meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. At the Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 109, 1500 Shenandoah Road. All Parkinson’s patients and caregivers are welcome.

Connect with T&ES on Facebook. The City of Alexandria’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) is on Facebook. The T&ES Facebook page will share information on topics such as transportation planning, trash and recycling service, road work and maintenance, traffic, infrastructure and engineering projects, Eco-City Alexandria and environmental initiatives, emergency cleanup efforts, and more. Visit alexandriava.gov/SocialMedia.

Training Courses. The American Red Cross in the National Capital Region will host training courses in CPR, First Aid, and AED in the Alexandria and Fort Belvoir offices. These classes offer a two-year certification. Classes range from $70-$110 and will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays, dependent upon the participant’s choice. Advance registration is required. To register for a class or find another class in your area, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcross.org/takeaclass.

Internet Offered for Low-income Families. Comcast kicks off year two of Internet Essentials, an adoption program designed to help close the digital divide for low-income Americans. A household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:

Is located where Comcast offers Internet service; has at least one child who is eligible to receive either a free or reduced price school lunch under the NSLP; has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days; and does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment. Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program through the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Any household that qualifies will remain eligible for Internet Essentials if at least one child eligible for either a free or reduced price school lunch remains living in the household.

Volunteers Needed

Jay Roberts has compiled a list of more than 250 historical markers located in and around Old Town. He hopes to have the information printed in book form by late summer and needs help with a final walk-about verifying the locations and text of each marker. FOAA has agreed to sponsor this endeavor. Those interested in history, who like to walk around looking for historical markers of all shapes and sizes, can help verify the makers. If interested, contact Ruther Reeder at 703-746-4719 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.

The City of Alexandria’s Historic Preservation division is seeking volunteers to assist with an architectural survey of the Old and Historic Alexandria District. This survey will be the first of its kind in the country using an exciting new GIS-based mobile application designed to expedite the surveying process and facilitate data sharing between the City of Alexandria and other cultural resource organizations. Surveying will begin in early March, with training taking place in late February. Approximately two days of training and approximately 5-10 days of field surveying. Contact Mary Catherine Collins at preservation@alexandriava.gov.

The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium needs volunteers to tutor kindergarteners and first-graders in literacy skills for 30 minutes once or twice a week through May in Alexandria public schools. Training and lesson plans provided. Call 703-549-6670, ext. 119, or visit www.alexandriatutors.org.

At Home in Alexandria! Those interested in becoming AHA! Friends should call AHA! at 703-231-0824 or download the application form from the AHA! website at www.athomeinalexandria.org. AHA! is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports Alexandrians ages 55+ who prefer to remain independent in their own homes.

AARP Tax-Aide, a national volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service for low to moderate income and elderly citizens, needs volunteers to electronically complete and file federal and state income tax forms for the 2013 tax season. Volunteers of all ages and background are welcome. The program offers free five-day training using IRS computers and software. Volunteers become IRS Certified Tax Counselors after completing and passing the IRS examination. Trainings sessions will be held in Annandale, Centerville and Alexandria in Dec. 2012 and Jan. 2013. Visit www.aarp.org/taxaide. Email will be sent in Dec. announcing specific dates and times.

Alexandria Archaeology is seeking one or two highly motivated volunteers to assist in the cataloging of these archaeological finds. Prior database and/or cataloging experience and a keen attention to detail are desirable qualifications for this position. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with Alexandria Archaeology’s professional staff in a friendly and fast-paced museum environment. Interested applicants should contact Alexandria archaeologist Paul Nasca at paul.nasca@alexandriava.gov.

TreeStewards are now accepting applications for the 2013 class. The TreeStewards of Arlington and Alexandria are volunteers dedicated to improving the health of our urban trees through educational programs, tree planting and care, demonstrations and tree maintenance throughout the community. New volunteer training will be held on Wednesday evenings, starting Feb. 13 through April 2013, with some Saturday mornings. Fun and interactive training is provided by recognized experts in tree care and citizen advocates. For more information and to complete an application, visit www.TreeStewards.org or call 703-527-2349.